:: Anthrax - Caught In A Mosh: BBC Live In Concert

Anthrax

Despite originally set for release in 2007 (when the classic line-up of the band were touring the world), this double album effort from Anthrax was pushed back instead to coincide with the Deluxe Edition remaster/re-release of their classic ‘Among The Living’ album from 1987. As the name suggests, ‘Caught In A Mosh: BBC Live In Concert’ is a double CD live compilation, with the two discs capturing two of the New York thrash act’s performances in the U.K. during their peak in 1987. The first disc of this set was recorded at London’s infamous Hammersmith Odeon on February 15, which was a mere month prior to the release of ‘Among The Living’. As you would expect, a fair chunk of the twelve track set-list is made up of tracks from their 1984 debut ‘Fistful Of Metal’ and their highly acclaimed second album ‘Spreading The Disease’. Filling out the remainder of the set was the new track ‘I Am The Law’, a cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ and a cover of The Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save The Queen’. The performances are certainly energetic and lively, even if the power behind the guitars and the vocals is a little muted by a dominance of bass and the overall muddiness of the way the sound was captured in the first place.

The second disc of this set (recorded at Donington’s ‘Monsters Of Rock’ festival on August 22) is obviously post ‘Among The Living’, and predicably enough, the set list focuses heavily on the album, with only three songs lifted from ‘Spreading The Disease’. What is a little confusing is why the second disc claims to feature ‘I’m The Man’ as the closing track, when in actual fact ‘A.I.R.’ is split over two tracks? Taking into account that this live album was due to be released some two years ago, you would have thought that someone would have realised the error in that time and made amends prior to its eventual release. I can only assume that given the release had already been manufactured; the cost of rectifying the mistake wouldn’t have been seen as cost effective. Sound wise, there’s little to complain about on the second disc. Sure, the drums are a little tinny sounding, but given it was recorded at an outdoor festival, it’s really only a minor issue.
But in terms of its overall appeal, ‘Caught In A Mosh: BBC Live In Concert’ isn’t what you would call an essential release. Sure, the album is a far more entertaining prospect than 1994’s contractually obliged release ‘Live: The Island Years’ (both in its sound and its packaging), but aside from diehard fans who have to have everything released under the name of Anthrax, its hard to justify the label’s reasoning behind yet another live compilation from the band’s long passed glory days.